Arsenal beat Spurs, infuriate opposition fans

Arsenal’s Theo Walcott gestures as he is carried off during their match against Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates stadium in London on Saturday.

Photo: EPA

Premier League leaders Arsenal overcame fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in the FA Cup third round on Saturday, while Aston Villa were dumped out by third-tier Sheffield United.

Tottenham had won at Manchester United in their previous outing, and new manager Tim Sherwood made only one change to his starting eleven, but his side fell behind in the 31st minute at the Emirates Stadium.

Teenager Serge Gnabry was the architect, picking the ball up wide on the Arsenal right and driving infield before finding Santi Cazorla, who arrowed a left-foot shot past goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

Spurs were unable to react and Tomas Rosicky sealed victory in the 62nd minute, robbing Danny Rose on halfway and bearing down on goal before adroitly lifting the ball over the advancing Lloris.

The game ended on a sour note for Arsenal when forward Theo Walcott had to be stretchered off after falling awkwardly, but he showed that he remained in high spirits by goading the visiting fans as he was carried away.

Earlier, last season’s beaten finalists Manchester City tasted fresh disappointment in the competition when they drew 1-1 against second tier side Blackburn Rovers.

Stunned by Wigan Athletic in last year’s final, City took the lead at Ewood Park through an Alvaro Negredo goal on the stroke of half-time, only for Scott Dann to equalize early in the second period.

City, currently second in the Premier League, also had defender Dedryck Boyata sent off late in the match for two bookable offenses and now face an unwelcome replay against Gary Bowyer’s side.

“I think it was a very close game,” City manager Manuel Pellegrini told BT Sport. “They’re a difficult team and they play here with a lot of intensity, so we must decide who continues in the FA Cup at home.”

Villa became the first major casualty of the third round after losing 1-2 at home to League One representatives Sheffield United.

Nicklas Helenius appeared to have kept Villa in the competition when he canceled Jamie Murphy’s deflected opener in the 75th minute, only for Ryan Flynn to give the Blades victory six minutes later.

“For us and our 6,000 fans who came today, I think you saw how much it meant,” winning manager Nigel Clough said. “It’s still a special, special competition, and we’d just like a home draw next because we’ve had three away games on the spin, so it would be nice to get one at Bramall Lane.”

Former Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer tasted success in his first game Cardiff City’s manager after his new side won 2-1 against Newcastle United.

Solskjaer, who succeeded the sacked Malky Mackay on Thursday, saw his new charges fall behind to a 66th-minute Papiss Cisse strike, but two goals in seven minutes from substitutes Craig Noone and Fraizer Campbell gave Cardiff victory.

“It’s not about me, but it is a perfect start to these new times,” Solskjaer said. “I think the lads have had a lot to deal with lately and it’s nice for them to start with a win in the cup.”

In the day’s two other results between Premier League sides, goals from Dwight Gayle and Marouane Chamakh gave Crystal Palace a 2-0 win at West Bromwich Albion and Fulham drew 1-1 at Norwich City.